When introduced by Billboard in March 1981, the Mainstream Rock chart was entitled Top Tracks and designed to measure the airplay of songs being played on album-oriented rock radio stations. The chart has undergone several name changes over the years, first to Top Rock Tracks in September 1984 and then to Album Rock Tracks in April 1986. The chart was not called "mainstream" until 1996. The term "tracks" was used to distinguish itself from singles charts (such as the Billboard Hot 100) as songs played on rock radio were not always released as singles. When an established rock artist released a new album, for example, it was not uncommon for multiple songs from the album to become popular simultaneously.
The song that had the longest run atop the chart during the 1980s was "Start Me Up" by the Rolling Stones at 13 weeks from the beginning of September through the first week of December in 1981. No other song had a run of more than 10 weeks. Tom Petty (with and without the Heartbreakers) was the act with the most number ones during the 1980s with 6.
Number-one songs
– Number-one song of the year Issue dateSongArtist(s)Weeks atnumber oneRef1981 March 21 "I Can't Stand It" Eric Clapton 2 April 4 "You Better You Bet" The Who 5 May 9 "The Waiting" Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers 6 June 20 "A Life of Illusion" Joe Walsh 1 June 27 "The Voice" The Moody Blues 4 July 25 "Urgent" Foreigner 4"Urgent" July 25 – August 15, 1981:
August 22 "Burnin' for You" Blue Öyster Cult 2"Burnin' for You" August 22–29, 1981:
September 5 "Start Me Up" The Rolling Stones 13"Start Me Up" September 5 – November 28, 1981:
December 5 "Waiting for a Girl Like You" Foreigner 1Waiting for a Girl Like You" December 5, 1981: December 12 "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" The Police 2"Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" December 12–19, 1981:
December 26 "Harden My Heart" Quarterflash 3"Harden My Heart" December 26, 1981 – January 9, 1982:
1982 January 16 "Centerfold" The J. Geils Band 3"Centerfold" January 16–30, 1982:
February 6 "I Love Rock and Roll" Joan Jett 5 "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" February 6 – March 6, 1982:
March 13 "(Oh) Pretty Woman" Van Halen 2"(Oh) Pretty Woman" March 13–20, 1982:
March 27 "Don't Let Him Know" Prism 1"Don't Let Him Know" March 27, 1982: April 3 "867-5309/Jenny" Tommy Tutone 3"867-5309/Jenny" April 3–17, 1982:
April 24 "Heat of the Moment" Asia 5"Heat of the Moment" April 24 – May 22, June 12, 1982:
May 29 "No One Like You" Scorpions 1"No One Like You" May 29, 1982: June 5 "Stone Cold" Rainbow 1"Stone Cold" June 5, 1982: June 12 "Heat of the Moment" Asia 1 June 19 "Hurts So Good" John Cougar 1"Hurt So Good" June 19, 1982: June 26 "Caught Up in You" .38 Special 1"Caught Up in You" June 26, 1982: July 3 "Eye of the Tiger" Survivor 5"Eye of the Tiger" July 3–31, 1982:
August 7 "Think I'm in Love" Eddie Money 3"Think I'm in Love" August 7–21, 1982:
August 28 "Everybody Wants You" Billy Squier 6"Everybody Wants You" August 28 – October 2, 1982:
October 9 "New World Man" Rush 1"New World Man" October 9 & 30, 1982:
October 16 "Dirty Laundry" Don Henley 2"Dirty Laundry" October 16–23, November 6, 1982:
October 30 "New World Man" Rush 1 November 6 "Dirty Laundry" Don Henley 1 November 13 "Shock the Monkey" Peter Gabriel 2"Shock the Monkey" November 13–20, 1982:
November 27 "Down Under" Men at Work 2"Down Under" November 27 – December 4, 1982; December 25, 1982 – January 8, 1983:
December 11 "You Got Lucky" Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers 2"You Got Lucky" December 11–18, 1982; January 15, 1983: